The 1-2-3-BAM! Method for Beating Spin and Go Tournaments

Since launching www.spinandgostrategy.com I’ve found myself constantly discussing how to beat Spin and Go tournaments with recreational players who have little to no understanding about poker strategy in general, let alone Spin and Go strategy. And while I repeatedly try to explain to them that there’s no fool-proof method for beating the Spin & Go games, it doesn’t seem to dissuade them from trying to coax one out of me anyways. In fact, the title of this blog-post is a direct quote from one such interaction I had out in the real world…I know, I was shocked it was still there too…

Having cornered me at a mutual friend’s house party after having 8 or 9 too many beers, this guy, who we shall call Durp, slurred at me for the third time in the past 5 minutes “ya man…but…like…just give me…you know…like a…one, two, three, BAM! method for beating Spin & Gos.”

I stood there, observing my involuntary new friend as he swayed back and forth ever so slightly, 12th beer in hand, eyes constantly trying to refocus on their intended target, and quickly decided the optimal strategy for me was to ignore the obvious reality that no such method existed and create one on the spot so that I could exit the conversation before I became an unwilling participant in one of Durp’s projectile-vomiting stories (of which I can only assume there are many).

Step One: When playing Spin & Gos, play a lot more hands than you are used to, especially in position. How many more hands? Approximately this many:

Step Two: If you have 2nd pair/good kicker or better, or a draw with more than 4 outs, bet both the flop and the turn, especially in position. Here is a visual representation of what it should feel like once you begin betting:

Step Three: On the river shove your missed draws and value hands, and check the rest, especially in position. This is the beginning of that mythical element of Balancing Your Ranges that all the cool kids are always talking about.

And finally, the BAM factor (Bonus Advice Module?): Please, for the love of all things holy – and I’m being serious for a second here – DO NOT try beating Spin and Go games while you are drunk with money you can’t afford to lose! There is no worse feeling than waking up with both a hangover and an empty poker account!

There you have it folks, the 1-2-3-BAM! Method for Beating Spin and Go Tournaments (patent still pending). Best of luck at the tables and remember, when all else fails simply raise your glass and say those two magic words:

Hey Jay, it really depends on your needs & br. If you’re looking for a good overview of general game strategy for the the spin & go games PrimordialAA/Simpledude’s pack, BIRJAAN’s pack, and my pack are all good options. I’d just read the pack descriptions and determine which one better meets your needs as far as your own game is concerned. Hope that helps and best of luck =)
Sentin